History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

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2/ Ganga Monarchy & Jainism
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resort to kill the enemies, both human and animal (elephant, horse) only out of dire necessity to protect the state and its subjects. They would even perform yajña, as was the royal tradition and fulfill the desire of the people, but yet continue to maintain absolute faith in their own Jain religion. Thus, they displayed a moral ambivalence. Being aware of this actual reality, Sramaņas, preachers of nonviolence, allowed a reasonable margin to the inevitable duities of a marshall race, but persisted to impress the ksatriyas, the significance of non-harming the living. Jaina monks actively insisted patriotism and heroism upon the warriors as the ethical code, encouraged their military concept, blessed the local monarchs. Thus they could muster and marshal strong political support to the creed of non-injury. The influence of the Jaina doctrine of non-absolutism (anekānta-Vāda) on the Gangas its their contribution to the progress of Jaina Church, has not received due attention. A hoard of antiquarian remains, lithic inscriptions numerous copper plate charters, rock cut beds, nisidhis carved sculptures on boulders, stone and metal images of the Jinas and Jina-Sasana-devas (Yaksa-Yaksi), paintings, magnificient monuments of architectural importance, excellent and majestic columns with artistic designs, basadis and mānastambhas - speak of the substantial contribution of the Gangas to Jainism and to Karnataka. An indigenous hardy and manly race, the Gangas made a modest, quiet, but consistent beginning in the modern Kolar district region and with their will and skill, grew from strength to strength, expanding the boundaries, to include numerically labelled as Gangavādi 96,000 proyince. “The rise of Gangavādi may be traced to the 2nd century A.D., and was about co-incident with the fall of the Andhras or Sātavāhanas' [Rice, Lewis : 1917: 238]: The Sātavāhanas reigned with glory and patronised Jainism. As the fortunes of war and alliances ordained,
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